Is Politics for Putzes?
It happens less often now that I’ve dropped off the map of legitimate, real-world newspaper journalism, but I’m frequently asked why I don’t run for political office.
I mean, the characteristics are all there: I am positively wonky for process and how the wheels of government turn. I believe in the power of change. I’m tenacious. I am an incurable optimist. Oh, and I’m smart as your average Shih Tzu, too.
But the main reason I’ve remained a paid observer and critic of politics/politicians is this: I’m too honest. I don’t mean in some high-horse, pious way — as in those people who believe all would be perfect in the world if we just structured everything around The Ten Commandments. What I mean is, I’m too mouthy, too unpolished. I’m basically a walking rough draft, a personality with a workable theme but spattered with typos and awkward prose. If I were to enter the political arena, I’d need a helluva rewrite.
I bring this up because three days after the 2007 state Legislature ends, I’m still perplexed over the outcome of a bill to allow EnergySolutions (ES) the freedom to grow its radioactive landfill in Utah’s west desert without the government’s permission. The bill to give ES a pass on local, legislative or executive oversight went to Huntsman this week for a signature or veto. And with all the spine of an amoeba, our guv decided to let it sit on his desk.
Which means the measure becomes law, which means thousands of Utahns (far more than the usual number of anti-nuke activists) are either enormously irked or deeply confused.
They are confused because Huntsman has been been outspoken since his 2004 campaign that he would not allow Utah to become the nation’s radioactive Dumpster. He has also vowed not to allow bills to simple evolve into law without his yes or no. The spin coming out of the executive office is dizzying: Huntsman says he’ll rely on the Northwest Compact, which is the federally designated oversight panel for the ES site, to limit the volume of waste the company can store to current levels.
Expansion at the facility (about an hour from Salt Lake City) will have to stay within the present mile-square boundary, and cannot include hotter waste than the low-level radioactive waste now accepted.
Suddenly, the image that Grantsville, Utah resident and environmentalist Chip Ward drew for me makes great sense. As Senate Bill 155 was being finessed last fall, Chip told me to expect at the least, a “giant pyramid” of waste going up at the ES facility in the next few years. But more likely, he said, “it will be a skyscraper.” If the company is restricted from storing more waste “out,” then why not up? And up?
What I fail to understand here is Huntsman’s sudden shrink into the background. He is enjoying a wildly high public approval rating. His numbers hover between 70 percent and 80 percent. What could he have possibly lost by standing up, speaking out against a bill that cracks open the door just a little wider for EnergySolutions?
The man is the face of the state of Utah, for pity’s sake. When this bill was working its way through the Legislature, looking more like a sure thing, why didn’t Huntsman call a press conference to reiterate his stand and put lawmakers on notice to expect a veto if they crossed him? At times, Huntsman has made this sound like an issue worth fighting for. Perhaps not.
Huntsman has been collecting political capital like its an armful of daisies, but he doesn’t use it. Meanwhile, the Legislature grows increasingly powerful and haughty. Sure, leadership made certain the guv got his education and highway spending requests. With a fat budget surplus to fall back on, those items never looked especially risky to begin with. But taking a stand against lobbying powerhouse EnergySolutions? Now that’s where you separate the men from the boys.
This is exactly why I can’t be a politician. I have no sense of gamesmanship, and I lack tact. I fear I would bulldoze into an issue, when a dainty little skip would serve me better. Best to stay on the outside looking in. And to remain deeply confused.
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:12 am
You know yourself well Holly and I agree with you about the machinations of politics (is that redundant?). I am in the last two years of elected office here in California and am counting the days until I do not have to deal with the underhandedness, duplicitous, back stabbing, deal swapping and general bovine feces of it all. Fortunately, over the years I have identified and know a few local politicians that I can trust and talk to, so that has made it easier.
Be careful what you say about my pal Dennis Kuccinich by the way. I think you’ll find that back to 2001 he had it all correct about the war, etc.
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:56 am
I remember Dennis from living in N.Ohio 1978/79. The youthful mayor of Cleveland..populist, filled with idealism and what a change from Carl Stokes ! (especially after the Cuyahoga river caught fire). The system really dragged Kuccinch down…too bad.
I think Al Gore would do well for the dems. He would be prez now but for Bill/Monica & that shithead Nader. Centrifugal forces of the race will get to Hillary in time. Maybe Gore`s best course is to wait a few months….
March 3rd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
I had to smile at this. I have worked on many campaigns and often wondered why candidates put up with it all. Then one day to my surprise, the Democratic Party phoned and wanted to know if I would be willing to run for the State Legislature. I was frankly floored. I strongly suspect it was an act of desperation but it did make me think. Ultimately I concluded that while I had the work ethic and knowledge to run, I really didn’t possess the judgement to govern.
As Edmund Burke once said, “A representative owes his constintuants not only his industry but his judgement, and he does them a disservice when he sacrifices it to their opinion.”
In a world where pandering to popular prejudice has become a science, I concluded that perhaps I would make a better contribution by encouraging people with good judgement to run and then working on their campaigns.
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Each year to celebrate the end of our eighth-grade study of the Constitution, I treat my classes to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (a classic beloved even by today’s jaded adolescents). As Mr. Smith takes his place in the Senate a page offers to get him whatever he needs and Mr. Smith responds that he’s just going to sit and keep his mouth shut. “That’s how to get re-elected,” quips the boy.
I suspect the governor has higher political aspirations.
March 3rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I love the movie Mr. Smith goes to Washington! I wonder how Jimmy Stewart would have fared in “Mr. Smith goes to Salt Lake City”?
I suspect the governor wants to keep the approval rating of his own party. After watching the viciousness of the threats, bullying, and arm-twisting over the school voucher bill, I suspect Gov. Huntsman didn’t want to subject himself to that. Utah Republicans eat their own if they’re crossed. If, as the previous comment said, he has higher political aspirations, it would be deadly to cross the powerful fat cats. They have long memories and hold grudges forever. It was really disappointing to see Gov. Huntsman “cave” like he did, but politics can be a soul-killing deadly disease. I guess he wasn’t immune.
March 30th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Gov. Huntsman’s agreement with the ES oversight bill was odd, since he previously seemed to favor tighter controls.
However, Mary, I don’t think there was as much of a change on the school vouchers. He ran as a pro-voucher/school choice candidate, so I don’t see the shift here. Anyone who voted for him accepted or ignored his stance on this issue.